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The Blake Harte Mysteries #6
Flatline
When Detective Sergeant Blake Harte finds himself in hospital for a minor operation to have his appendix removed, he is restless and itching to return to work. For Blake, the thought of being stuck on Ward 7A with no work to distract him is akin to torture, and when he finds out that his duties are being overseen by his work rival, Sergeant Gardiner, the situation only seems to worsen.
But then, Blake finds himself in the epicentre of the most bizarre case he has seen yet.
Doctor Joe Tilsley is alone and stuck in an elevator. When the lift is finally fixed, and the doors open onto Ward 7A, Doctor Tilsley is dead, and most bizarrely of all, he appears to have been drowned.
To have any hope of piecing together the delicate balance of secrets and lies that threaten to explode from within Clackton General, Blake must discover how Tilsley’s death could possibly have occurred while trapped in a hospital that seems to have a shadowy killer stalking the corridors, and they already have their next victim in sight…
But then, Blake finds himself in the epicentre of the most bizarre case he has seen yet.
Doctor Joe Tilsley is alone and stuck in an elevator. When the lift is finally fixed, and the doors open onto Ward 7A, Doctor Tilsley is dead, and most bizarrely of all, he appears to have been drowned.
To have any hope of piecing together the delicate balance of secrets and lies that threaten to explode from within Clackton General, Blake must discover how Tilsley’s death could possibly have occurred while trapped in a hospital that seems to have a shadowy killer stalking the corridors, and they already have their next victim in sight…
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2018
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79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 28, 2018
Flatline
Another terrific addition in The Blake Harte Mysteries! I love how twisty the mysteries are in this series! It’s never an easy direct path to the killer or the method of killing. This is a must read series!
Another terrific addition in The Blake Harte Mysteries! I love how twisty the mysteries are in this series! It’s never an easy direct path to the killer or the method of killing. This is a must read series!
January 23, 2025
The mystery here's not on the level of the third book but still pretty interesting. I felt like the conflict between Harrison and Blake came totally out of nowhere though, and this particular argument feels a bit cliched. The nurse made for a good narrator though (I forgot her name oops)
April 30, 2018
Our protagonist is flat on his back with his relationship in a rocky phase. Never-the-less, his curiosity lands him in the middle of another strange murder case that may have links to his owner hit and run case.
The tension is good, the action... maybe a little contrived in moving characters where they need be. And like a prior book, the hideous person is the nut case. (Do'n't ever let him meet me; he'd call me a murder for sure.) It did have a bit of a surprising turn, so the mystery is still sharp and complex.
I'd like to see a more in depth exploration of the relationship and some type of growth or change.
I devoured this book and enjoyed it quite thoroughly. All in all, it was pretty good.
The tension is good, the action... maybe a little contrived in moving characters where they need be. And like a prior book, the hideous person is the nut case. (Do'n't ever let him meet me; he'd call me a murder for sure.) It did have a bit of a surprising turn, so the mystery is still sharp and complex.
I'd like to see a more in depth exploration of the relationship and some type of growth or change.
I devoured this book and enjoyed it quite thoroughly. All in all, it was pretty good.
April 30, 2019
Warning: I will swear about how good this book is.
Another bloody brilliant mystery from Robert Innes and Detective Sergeant Blake Hart. I actually feel like I know the people in this series by now - Blake, Michael Gardiner, Mini Patil, Matti, Harrison, Angel - sort of. They’re so well and consistently drawn that you don’t need the ‘x said’ to know who is talking!
This one is a classic Harte locked-door mystery: how does a man get drowned in a completely dry lift, alone? There’s so much to the story, the personalities, the friction between Blake and Gardiner. And obviously, now (several books in) we finally have him and Harrison together, Blake’s workaholism means even that relationship is unsteady. The beauty of how Innes has written Blake is that I feel slightly sympathetic so although, yes, he is being an arse, I don’t have the same “oh ffs!” response I often have with the heavy-handed drawing-out of the will-they-won’t-they relationships you get on TV detective series.
Next!
Another bloody brilliant mystery from Robert Innes and Detective Sergeant Blake Hart. I actually feel like I know the people in this series by now - Blake, Michael Gardiner, Mini Patil, Matti, Harrison, Angel - sort of. They’re so well and consistently drawn that you don’t need the ‘x said’ to know who is talking!
This one is a classic Harte locked-door mystery: how does a man get drowned in a completely dry lift, alone? There’s so much to the story, the personalities, the friction between Blake and Gardiner. And obviously, now (several books in) we finally have him and Harrison together, Blake’s workaholism means even that relationship is unsteady. The beauty of how Innes has written Blake is that I feel slightly sympathetic so although, yes, he is being an arse, I don’t have the same “oh ffs!” response I often have with the heavy-handed drawing-out of the will-they-won’t-they relationships you get on TV detective series.
Next!
February 2, 2019
I am reading this whole series slowly and frankly this was my least favorite.
Blake was really an ass. I will read the next but I hope Harrison stands up and slaps Blake around a little to snap him out of it.
Blake was really an ass. I will read the next but I hope Harrison stands up and slaps Blake around a little to snap him out of it.
April 30, 2018
This was a short novel that relied too heavily on the mystery elements (a so-so mystery) and not enough on growing the characters. Very average effort.
June 22, 2020
4.0 - Layered Puzzle in Delightful Gay Cozy British Mystery Series
I really enjoy good cozy British mysteries, whether on PBS or on page, and this was just what the doctor ordered (sorry, but I couldn't resist). This was another good continuation in Robert Innes' entertaining series of cozy gay mysteries, each a standalone with an impossible crime, and in the background the maturing relationship between DS Harte and Harrison.
So, how could a doctor die in a stuck hospital elevator, by drowning? But first, I had to laugh at the fact that Harte can't even go to the hospital to get his appendix out without another bizarre murder in that very hospital. Such is the appeal of a cozy mystery. As for that mystery, I liked how it was layered with various crimes. It started with a crime, so I knew who did it, and then it was up to DS Harte to figure out (with me in the know and wondering how he would do it). That made for a different but still engaging experience. However, there was still the twist with yet another set of crimes. I was happy that I had an idea on the final how, but not the who and how it got there.
As in any cozy mystery, it's not just about the mystery; and I enjoyed the other elements. The quaint village. A cast of new and familiar colorful characters. An easy read, with also a manner of phrasing that isn't in error but a dialect that made me feel a part of the locale.
Continuing on. While "cozy," an edginess brought on by actually addressing a previous issue I had - some "caricatures" and relationships now got some depth, including Harte and his relationship with Harrison. A likable gay DS still getting settled in his new job and town. An equally likable new partner. Yet a maturing gay relationship that refreshingly did not take center stage but was just a part of the story and life.
And a classic culmination, put best by DS Harte himself, "Thanks for coming everybody. I'm sorry to make this all so cliched [I'm not], but in this instance, I'm afraid it was necessary." So again in the colloquial vernacular, the ending did brought closure to the mystery, and the epilogue had set me up nicely for the next one.
I really enjoy good cozy British mysteries, whether on PBS or on page, and this was just what the doctor ordered (sorry, but I couldn't resist). This was another good continuation in Robert Innes' entertaining series of cozy gay mysteries, each a standalone with an impossible crime, and in the background the maturing relationship between DS Harte and Harrison.
So, how could a doctor die in a stuck hospital elevator, by drowning? But first, I had to laugh at the fact that Harte can't even go to the hospital to get his appendix out without another bizarre murder in that very hospital. Such is the appeal of a cozy mystery. As for that mystery, I liked how it was layered with various crimes. It started with a crime, so I knew who did it, and then it was up to DS Harte to figure out (with me in the know and wondering how he would do it). That made for a different but still engaging experience. However, there was still the twist with yet another set of crimes. I was happy that I had an idea on the final how, but not the who and how it got there.
As in any cozy mystery, it's not just about the mystery; and I enjoyed the other elements. The quaint village. A cast of new and familiar colorful characters. An easy read, with also a manner of phrasing that isn't in error but a dialect that made me feel a part of the locale.
Continuing on. While "cozy," an edginess brought on by actually addressing a previous issue I had - some "caricatures" and relationships now got some depth, including Harte and his relationship with Harrison. A likable gay DS still getting settled in his new job and town. An equally likable new partner. Yet a maturing gay relationship that refreshingly did not take center stage but was just a part of the story and life.
And a classic culmination, put best by DS Harte himself, "Thanks for coming everybody. I'm sorry to make this all so cliched [I'm not], but in this instance, I'm afraid it was necessary." So again in the colloquial vernacular, the ending did brought closure to the mystery, and the epilogue had set me up nicely for the next one.
November 8, 2018
Not much of Blake and Harrison other than the difficulties when Blake’s need to work clashes with Harrison’s wish to have more time with him. I wish I’d had more time with them working through this hiccup.
The cold case murder of Lucy is the central theme, especially when a hospitalised Blake overhears enough to start seeing conspiracies in every corner.
Another death, mysteriously a drowning in an elevator, is the catalyst that unravels lots of different people involved and complicit in the first death.
Enjoyable cosy mystery. Blake and Gardiner continue with their antagonistic working relationship.
Probably a strong 3.5* as I wanted more character progression but enjoyed the mystery amd enjoy the series.
The cold case murder of Lucy is the central theme, especially when a hospitalised Blake overhears enough to start seeing conspiracies in every corner.
Another death, mysteriously a drowning in an elevator, is the catalyst that unravels lots of different people involved and complicit in the first death.
Enjoyable cosy mystery. Blake and Gardiner continue with their antagonistic working relationship.
Probably a strong 3.5* as I wanted more character progression but enjoyed the mystery amd enjoy the series.
June 6, 2020
Another clever puzzle mystery from Innes. These novellas are short but well-plotted, and the main relationship, between Blake and his boyfriend Harrison, is well-developed.
Since this one takes place while Blake is in the hospital, the development of the continuing characters isn't as strong-- the focus here is really on the puzzle of how a doctor could have been drowned while stuck in an elevator for twenty minutes.
I'd like to see Innes stretch his muscles a bit and move on to a longer work, one that would give him a chance to show all his supporting characters.
Since this one takes place while Blake is in the hospital, the development of the continuing characters isn't as strong-- the focus here is really on the puzzle of how a doctor could have been drowned while stuck in an elevator for twenty minutes.
I'd like to see Innes stretch his muscles a bit and move on to a longer work, one that would give him a chance to show all his supporting characters.
July 20, 2024
While short, and sometimes feeling like a telly script for Sunday night murder mystery, these are tight and full of twists. I suppose the only problem is the relationships with between characters do not develop on the page as much as between books. That said, the characters are all so familiar now, and the more you read, the more you learn about them. I like the fast and quick read of these and will keep going until there are no more I guess.
April 30, 2018
I was so excited to hear another Blake Harte Mystery was coming out!! There was a twist in this one that I totally did not see coming. I love these quick murder mysteries. Looking forward to the next one. Blake has some work ahead of him. 😉
May 6, 2018
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
- Review to come
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
- Review to come
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
November 23, 2018
Another great mystery
Supersleuth Blake solves another Impossible mystery at the expense of his relationship with Harrison. He better shape up, before Harrison dumps his egotistical mass.
Supersleuth Blake solves another Impossible mystery at the expense of his relationship with Harrison. He better shape up, before Harrison dumps his egotistical mass.
February 29, 2020
Hart kinda annoyed me in this one and it seemed shorter than normal, ok mystery.
June 16, 2020
Loved this book, literally read the whole thing in one sitting. The whole series is so much fun and blissful escapism
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews